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Staring down the bagged snacks aisle at my local Korean supermarket on a recent Sunday, I weighed which would be worth taking home for tasty WFH sustenance, or flaunting at my desk during in-office days. I spent a surprising amount of time contemplating which would be “work appropriate” given my office’s implicit etiquette of a clean and somewhat sparse desk. I also still possess some anxiety around bringing food from home into work. Growing up Chinese-American, I learned early on that some food types are easier to just keep out of the lunchbox—acquired tastes, “unusual” (read: non-Western) ingredients, and pungent smells.

But now that everyone’s either a low-key or bonafide foodie, I suspect that the more foreign the snack, the more heads it will turn at the office, in a good way. So here are 10 Asian supermarket snacks I’ve discovered recently—as well as some rediscoveries from childhood—that not only pass the taste test, but are also fun to eat. (Note: The Asian foodscape offers plenty of health-conscious options, but these aren’t them.) Spice up your rotation of bland go-tos, ignore the bowl of waxy apples in the office kitchen, and put the Takis down (briefly) to take these packaged flavor escapes for a spin.

Back in 2015, these chips were so popular that they gave rise to their 

 and about a bazillion competitor spin-offs. Thankfully the hype has died down, and the original, much-sought-after Calbee iteration is well-stocked on grocers’ shelves. I personally don’t get much honey nor butter flavor from these, but an almost cheesy sensation. Imagine potato gratin as a chip. Plain Lay’s? Don’t know her.

Imagine a chocolate-covered almond. Now imagine replacing the chocolate with a magical casing that’s a stunning facsimile for milk tea instead. Boba fiends take note: These taste exactly as promised. Frankly, I’d hide them in a drawer; there’s a high chance these treat-yourself nuts will disappear from your desk.

Run, don’t walk, to grab these if you’re a fan of Pirate’s Booty. These are, in a word, a bougier version. You still get a puff dusted with satisfying cheese dust, except that dust is gorgonzola (supposedly). I also find the irregularly shaped puffs to be—stay with me—a cleaner, more work-friendly eating experience. No idea if it’s the shape or the powder recipe, but you can eat a few without a coating of flavor stuck to your fingers/keyboard. (Tip: Chopsticks work too.)

Tteokbokki is a savory Korean rice cake dish simmered in a gochujang sauce. You’ve probably seen these red logs at a KBBQ group dinner, or on virtually every Korean restaurant’s takeout menu. These chips are a fun take on the real deal. Each bite is equal parts crunchy, sweet-savory, and spicy. (They’re made with actual Korean hot pepper powder.) Given they’re a relatively loud snack, pop a bag of these to break up an hours-long stretch of sitting at your bedroom desk.

If you still want to try a chip designed to taste like a real dish, but without the spice, the honey-butter masterminds at Calbee have also concocted a puffed corn chip designed to taste like takoyaki (octopus-filled, savory Japanese doughnuts). I found their “dust” recipe of seaweed, onion, garlic, and paprika powders to be surprisingly convincing and definitely addictive, if not entirely accurate.

I love the sinus burn of wasabi. And this classic snack does not disappoint. Whether you like to eat small, crunchy things by the handful or one-by-one, the burn will sneak up on you, so be prepared to brush off an unexpected sneeze if you’re eating these in the office. On the other hand, they’re a handy wake-up aid when you’re about to doze off mid-meeting.

Once all of the assorted bags were opened, I found myself reaching back for these crunchy twists the most.

If the wasabi peas were a level 8 burn, these would be a 3. The kick actually takes a couple chews to sneak up on you. Upon first bite, the flavor profile also leans much more toward roasted seaweed, in a tasty sweet-savory way. Once all of the assorted bags on this list were opened (such a brave assignment), I found myself reaching back for these crunchy twists the most.

The nutty, roasted rice flavor of these crackers is pure nostalgia for me. Toasty, seaweed-y, and very, very crunchy, I suggest washing these down with some green (or oolong if you’re feeling fancy) tea for an afternoon pick-me-up. They do 

pack a crunch, so consider munching on these to drown out a webinar or a rambling coworker.

Growing up, it took me a while to wrap my head around sweet beans as a dessert, but once I did, I would beg my mom to buy me these chewy, sweet morsels of deliciousness every week at the Chinese supermarket. The packaging makes it tough to casually open these without fielding a litany of questions, so plan to bring a second package to share around.

As far as Asian-imported chips are concerned, these are, without question, the GOAT. They’re crunchy in a light, airy way. They’re shrimpy in a fun, salty way. And they’re impossible not to become obsessed with. Try rolling up the bag and putting them away, only to dive back in a few minutes later. Proceed with caution. Or throw it to the wind. They do smell seafood-y (not as strongly as say, microwaved salmon, but seat-mates will definitely catch a whiff), so snack with whatever discretion that calls for to you.

10 Asian Supermarket Finds That Make Great Office Snacks 

Being a mom means playing many roles, but the last couple of years of pandemic parenting have been a whole new ballgame. As the boundaries between work and life become more blurred in our virtual-first, work-from-anywhere reality, parenting has also changed. We talked to working moms about what it’s really like being a mother right now and how they’re redefining work-life balance. Spoiler: Yes, there’s poop.

Lacey Gutekunst
Chief of Staff, Museum of Women

 is blasting in the background as I negotiate contracts or am giving a presentation and breastfeeding at the same time."

"Some days you'll be working until 9 pm and the kids are eating stale chips. Other days, you're making roasted veggies and sous vide chicken (and they wish they had stale chips!). The most important thing? Try to live a life without guilt. It's hard but so worth it.”

Jessica Torres Cooper
Editorial Director, Hearst Magazines

"A close friend told me: ‘As working moms, we are constantly juggling. But every juggler drops a ball once in a while. The key is knowing what’s a glass ball and which are plastic.’"

Barbara Mortimer
Senior Product Manager, New Stand

"I gave birth during the pandemic and have approached work differently since becoming a new mom. I am more creative, more empathetic, more thorough. I want to be my daughter’s role model."

Staci Bush
Former Executive Director of Medical Affairs

"When I adopted my daughter, my priorities changed. One day I realized my heart had jumped out of my body and was crawling on the floor. But as mothers, we have to put our own masks on first. A little self-care. That 90-minute massage makes me a better mother for 90 days."

Erika Velazquez
Head of Marketing, New Stand

"There have been so many moments where mom life and work life have blended together! Most recently it was probably my potty-training toddler shouting how proud he was of pooping in the potty while I was dialed into an internal cross-functional meeting."

Jossy Lee
MIT-trained Innovator & Creator of Mommy Goes To Work

"The pandemic has strengthened my ability to switch from one task to another—from personal to professional. From changing my son’s last-minute diaper to hosting a virtual board meeting (yeah, those things happened within moments of each other)."

What It’s Really Like Being a Working Mom Right Now

Within the chaotic content mix TikTok is known for, one corner of the app that’s blown up over the past two years is #corporatehumor. Thanks in large part to the shift for millions of people to remote work, users today can tap into an endless waterfall of relatable, head-shaking humor about the ups and downs of corporate culture and working from home. Too-real observations like Gen Z’s extremely casual approach to 

 faced by Black employees, and the day-to-day fallout of the 

 now make up their own super-popular niche.

In some ways, the genre is a response to the newer struggles that’ve come with paying the bills during a global pandemic, and in others, it feels like the culmination of the long, slow burn of workers growing fed up with the status quo. On top of being a way to vent and connect, these quick-hit clips also have payoff potential. The creator 

, one of the earliest in the category to go viral—for his portrayal of being a 

 in a desk job—has racked up 1.4 million followers and paid partnerships with brands like SpaghettiOs and Dr. Pepper.

So for the micro-influencers actually churning out these videos, what it’s like mining their day job for content, and is it problematic when coworkers find their account? To find out, I asked three #worktok creators about life behind the For You page.

How did you get started as a creator—or, to quote the viral Cardi B 

) began his TikTok as a foodie account highlighting his favorite local D.C.-area restaurants in 2020: “I started it as a way to support small businesses during lockdown. Then I saw the trend of corporate humor, and it was such a good way of poking fun at those moments at work when you’re like, ‘This would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad!’”

), TikTok was a way to keep her growing comedy career alive while working her day job from home: “I was a comedian before TikTok, but the pandemic brought me online—with live stages not being open, I started posting a lot more. Work-related jokes have always been a sweet spot for me. Not all comedians have corporate jobs, and I was able to speak to these really relatable moments firsthand.”

) had been scrolling for a few years before he decided to start posting his own content in late 2021: “I came across people like 

, and it was so funny and relatable. I thought I could try my hand at it. My first videos were really random, but those work ones gained a lot of traction.”

 going, and how awkward is it when your coworkers find your account?

: “I have a full-time role in marketing that includes social media management, and I partly got the job because I have experience creating video and short-form content. I love my job right now, and my boss is fully aware of my account. There are some things I might poke fun at, but a lot of what I’m putting out there is based on old jobs or these universal experiences we all have.”

: “A few people at work do know about [my TikTok presence], but I kind of ask them to keep it on the down-low. I recently started and my new company has been awesome, so I want to make sure people know a lot of my material is about older experiences or talking to friends. I’m treading water carefully on that front. Having a social media presence in addition to my professional life is a bit of a challenge since all of this is so new to me!”

: “I work at the Semel Institute of Neuroscience at UCLA, and my job really is very gratifying but it’s very administrative, so having a way to express my creative self is huge. The most important thing I try to convey to my colleagues is that I’m a comedian, so everything is blown way out of the water to be funnier. I’m not walking around with a notebook spying on everyone.”

How do you manage making content so it doesn’t take over your personal life? And how do you decide what to post?

: “If there’s something I’m really, really excited about, I’ll just make it quickly and post it. It doesn’t take up too much of my time. I would say less than 10 hours a week. Honestly I lose more hours scrolling! It’s not even the posting that’s a problem.”

: “I make time during the weekend to film a bunch of content. I spoof off a lot of trending sounds, whatever is hot right now, so I’ll listen to a sound over and over again and then sometimes I get random ideas in the shower. I’ll create a draft that’s just my face with text over it and go back and remake it as a video later.”

The algorithm is all over the place, especially lately, and it’s evolving every day. Sometimes I post something and I’m like, ‘this is so hilarious, it’s totally relatable,’ and it flops. Other times something random will take off. It’s hard to gauge, so you have to just put things out there.”

The intergenerational office dynamic is a frequent setup on #worktok. How does that resonate with you? Do you think younger generations are changing workplace culture?

: “[Work culture] is so different now than before the pandemic; there’s also been a difference for me between working in my early 20s and in my late 20s. [My views have changed on] how to be authentic at work, and what parts of my job are energizing or not. Corporate comedy has also allowed us to realize that imposter syndrome is so widespread and we shouldn't let it get to us."

: “I’m in my mid-20s and even I have seen a shift in workplace culture. The power of social media—even content creators giving [more straightforward] work advice—has provided so much value to all of us. Traditionally, for example, people say you should stay at a company for 15 to 20 years, but now we see the best way to increase your salary is to go to a new company every few years. Especially with inflation and the smallness of cost-of-living raises; a lot of people wouldn’t have known that before Tiktok and Instagram. It’s definitely not something I expected to learn when I downloaded an entertainment app.”

Work culture is in its pay transparency era—so how much does the influencer hustle actually pay off?

: “I never thought I’d get paid for anything I make online. The Tiktok creator fund is like pennies per video, but brands are definitely starting to invest more in partnerships. I’ve noticed they’re more comfortable spending on Instagram ads versus ads on Tiktok, but I think that’s quickly changing. I created my own media kit after I got a certain amount of requests. That helps in terms of looking really professional, and I have a group of people in the same community and we can say, ‘What do you think of this, what did you do for them,’ etc. I feel a lot more comfortable going into those conversations now.”

: “As an actor and comedian, it helps with visibility. TikTok has made me some cool networking connections, like how [my videos] exposed me to my manager. It hasn’t been completely life-changing, but it’s been positive for my career so I’m really grateful. I’ve also been able to take occasional brand deals—I just used the money to help pay for the tail end of my graduate degree.”

: “I’m not there yet but sure, I would love to explore doing this full-time if I could live off of it. I like the video editing, the creative aspect. A lot of people on TikTok have had a really big social following on another platform like Instagram first, which helps. I’ve been growing my Reels presence, but the brands I’ve worked with have been mostly interested in TikTok.”

Any advice for creators hoping to make it to FYPs everywhere?

: “I would say, if anyone is thinking about starting an account, just go for it. You never know what’s going to happen. I got a lot of encouragement from other content creators. It’s a lot easier to go viral than you might think, and there are real opportunities out there, especially as brands are figuring out how to participate and capitalize on the app.”

I’m a TikTok “Work Life” Influencer

As the “vibe shift” supposedly hurtles our way, there’s a lot of collective hand-wringing over what to do with the office these days. We too are daydreaming about how favored pre-’demic work spaces—open floor plans, flexible seating, et al.—may, and are already starting to, shape shift. For lack of a crystal ball (keeping up with our 

 is as far as we can promise the future), we’re rifling through the beige metal filing cabinets of what’s come before.


From the soulless sleek of traditional corporate HQs to the dusty charm of analog hardware, pop culture offers a stocked snack drawer of thrillingly regressive 

. In a moment when Y2K-style micro mini skirts are back in the cultural consciousness, and there’s an outcry for low-tech, “

” experiences, nostalgic workplace design satiates the same craving for comfort through familiarity. Here are a few such movie and TV offices that live commercial-rent free in our heads—even when the movie/show makes us want to walk out carrying our stapler, bobblehead, and philodendron in a cardboard box.

On top of the dream cast of Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin, 

 was radical (albeit in slapstick fashion) when it came out in 1980. Fed up with their sexist bigot of a boss, the trio of office workers kidnap him and implement a (still!) 

. From a visual aspect, it’s the now-absurd scale of the staff’s office supplies that has us reaching to connect the solid weight of a 40-pound electric typewriter to the film’s theme of worker solidarity.

 fantasize about snapping the rings of an oversized plastic binder closed, to chilling effect? If you haven’t spun your desk chair around while on the phone, thus imprisoning yourself in the springy cord, does “making it” even matter? In another scene, the mammoth, quarter-fed vending machine is an emblem of work iconography that feels surprisingly sentimental. Stop us before we romanticize needing a notebook-sized calculator to do simple math.

The real star of Netflix’s series chronicling the meteoric rise (and subsequent fall) of Roy Halston Fenwick is, of course, the designer’s late ’70s office that soared 21 floors above Fifth Avenue. Drenched in saturated vermilion, the outlandishly glamorous office centered the sofa (wall-to-wall modular sectionals, that is) long before WeWork was even a cursed seedling of an idea.

Meanwhile, the floor-to-ceiling windows are what we dreamed of in our last cubicle job, where we’d pop up like groundhogs to see if it was nighttime, or snowing. There 

 some hints of actual work in the 12,000 square foot space—a few chic desks dressed with orchids and pin-up boards filled with design sketches. But the walls of mirrors and lacquer furniture mostly synced vibes-wise with Halston’s off-the-clock watering hole, a cute little spot called Studio 54. (The sports bar you went to for Bill in payroll’s goodbye drinks was cool, though.)

We’re not oblivious to the other psychotically red office Netflix has implanted into our media chips lately, but with all due respect to 

for best old school-leaning print-pub office. (*It has to be said that sitting in 

’s Scriberia, where seemingly no one has their own deadlines to worry about, seems like paradise for those of us who would very much like to be left alone.)

While their boss is an egotistical has-been and they presumably make no money, Annie (Aidy Bryant) and her coworkers at the local alternative paper get to work in a sprawling, peak Portland warehouse-turned-newsroom. We’ve heard East Coast media folks are still trying to verify whether its enormity and wide-open flow is a factual possibility. Reporting does suggest that the deliciously stagnant stacks of paper, hodgepodge of sexless chairs, and requisite fluorescent lighting (an insult to the wall of stained glass windows, because workplace logic) all track. Also, our new platform is proliferating cork boards again.

To be clear, we’d rather be bypassed for that senior title 

 be on call for the nightmare client than consider a job at Waystar Royco. Psychological and verbal abuse aside, there’s something unsettlingly seductive about the deliberate sterility of the conglomerate’s midtown tower. It’s not exactly outdated, but it is a stalwart of the status quo—in this world, there’s a proper way to sit in power, inconspicuous furnishings that cost more than our salaries included.

The zero-nonsense décor is unsurprising given leadership’s ruthless obsession with business dominance and literally nothing else. But what is refreshing is the eff-you confidence of existing in a reality above any attention to trend or fashion. Eames rolling chairs? Too obvious, too…poor? Could we argue that in the headquarters’ calculated lack of style, the Roys have achieved the ultimate level of taste? Wealth whispers; in their stark restraint, Waystar’s glass-and-chrome angles hiss.

Honestly, we didn’t get more than 1.5 seasons into this show, and the Pied Piper team’s share-house may or may not qualify as an office. And obviously, it’s a hard no on becoming roommates with your coworkers (as therapy’s taught us: “boundaries”). But as some of us continue to work from home more than we did previously, we’ve started to grudgingly miss some in-office dynamics, like actually interacting with human life. Maybe working from home…together…is kind of genius?

If you’re already doing this with friends/coworkers, congrats on living in 2050. (Sorry, roommates and spouses don’t count; we do make the rules.) Remember studying with friends in the library in college, spending half the time stifling obnoxious laughter over absolutely nothing? Let’s figure out how to bring that 

. Personally we’re in it for the constant stream of snacks and acceptability of wearing sweats while working, but you know, go team, too.

5 Offices We Love From Pop Culture

Growing up, I watched my dad wake up early and put on a shirt and tie (the younger I was, the wider the tie). He would take NJ Transit to Port Authority and walk to his office on 49th and 8th, stopping along the way to grab a street cart coffee. Monday to Friday, Dad would be at his office until about 6 pm, and then walk back to the bus terminal for his trip home to the suburbs. I didn’t see him much during the week, but I know he really enjoyed his work, and I was proud of him.

The other week, my friend’s niece, who graduated from an elite university and recently started her first job, said to me, “I’m psyched to go to the office and meet some of my colleagues for the first time, but if they make me go in more than a couple days a week, I’m gonna find a new job.”

Both of these approaches seem wrong to me. The monotony tied to my dad’s routine and the apathy embedded in the other’s routine are both flawed. I’m not passing judgment on my departed dad or my friend’s niece—it’s not their fault. In my opinion, companies of the recent past ground workers down and took advantage; companies today are wrestling with how to impart a greater sense of meaning and make a deeper connection with employees.

So, if past models are outdated and present modes are untenable, how should we think about a new routine and relationship with work?

I think the first step is appreciating the magnitude of the changes to our attitudes, choices, and experiences that impact how our work-life routines are shaped. Generation-shifting moments like these don’t happen often, and they don’t happen overnight.

The breakdown of society’s trust in and relationship with institutions is a big one. When my dad entered the workforce in the early 1960s, 

 in the US said they “trust the government always or most of the time.” At the beginning of 2020, that number was at 17%. And while business is trusted more than government, in the 

, less than half said they “trust business to do what is right.”

Access to technology and capital that was formerly reserved to bigger institutions is another reality shaping our individual expectations, ambitions, and experiences around work-life. From Etsy to Shopify, Tik Tok to Twitch, AngelList to Patreon, the means to monetize one’s ideas and talents is ever-expanding. As a result, the psychic gap between what’s possible and what’s plausible continues to close. This has to be at least part of the explanation for The Great Resignation, and the record-setting 

5.4 million new business applications filed in 2021

 (up 23% from the previous record, set in 2020).

Similarly, and quite obviously, our access to media and information has had a profound influence on our daily routines and experiences. It’s quaint to think that my dad and his colleagues started their careers with three TV stations and the first commercial fax machine as their window into the future of connectivity. Today, the pace of communication change remains at a near-exponential rate: In 2010, non-voice time spent on mobile phones (text, web, apps) was roughly 23 minutes a day; as of 2021, it was 4 hours and 23 minutes.

The last shift I’ll mention is how we view ourselves and our relationships with one another. “Scratch an altruist and watch a hypocrite bleed” is a quote associated with a long-held and now largely disproven theory that humans evolved from “selfish genes.” I think most of us would agree that nice people can finish first, and that progress towards greater kindness, inclusivity, and fairness has been made. We’ve got a long way to go, but our collective investment in humanity means life in corporate America looks better in 2022 than it did in 1962.

All of this is to say that our routines don’t just exist in a vacuum. As we try to imagine the future of work, it’s helpful to think about where we’ve been, and where we are right now. Our routines are echoes of forces and systems of the past, and direct outgrowths of the values and possibilities of the present.

Over the last 18 months, I’ve been blessed to talk and ideate with a number of chief people officers and like-minded leaders who are trying to support and reimagine their team’s routines. Here are some of the highlights and insights from those conversations.

Companies or managers who insist on overly rigid policies that don’t stand the test of logic will simply lose the battle for the best talent. Career advancement tied to needless ‘facetime with the boss’ when our phones come preloaded with FaceTime is illogical and mean. The routines companies set need to make sense and be more magnanimous.

Our future work routines can in part be special versions of things we already do a lot of – such as being on our phones and snacking. Corporate content and engagement needs to be a great consumer-oriented mobile-first experience. Regarding snacks and space, I can share some inspiration from my previous company, Mother, where my cofounder, Paul, combined our reception area and office kitchen. Entering every day through the kitchen made for a fun, functional, and familiar routine.

First, as we look to set new routines, we’re going to make a lot of mistakes. That needs to be ‘priced into’ our thinking. Second, we need to develop unified strategies across everything, from snacks to software, from perks to policies. Key to success will be implementing an approach and set of solutions that lets us rapidly learn and iterate.

My dad was a pretty strict adherent to the Golden Rule (though he often phrased it a little differently—“don’t be an a–hole”). I think treating people as you want to be treated is a great starting point for routines because it grounds us in our humanity: a need for safety and security, a need to laugh and learn new things, and an instinct to be both competitive and collaborative.

I know for me it’s time to put the past behind in relation to work and routines. But it’s helpful to look backward and embrace the basics as we charge ahead.

A Future Informed by the Past

From orthopedic surgeons to functional MDs, most doctors agree: Humans weren’t made to sit for 8 hours a day. Alas, you’ve got emails and conference calls and PDFs on PDFs to review from your office chair or WFH setup. Good thing you’ve got this list of nine ways to work while standing up.


If you need to catch up with a coworker, add a little note into your calendar to invite them for a meeting on the move. Having a little walk and talk makes me feel like I’m in an Aaron Sorkin movie. And if you get a little coffee during the meeting? A happy accident. (Note: Walking around the blocks of your respective remote HQs, chatting via earbuds, counts too.)

2. Virtual meetings where you’re mostly listening

Please make sure to turn your camera off so your coworkers aren’t watching from your shoulders to your knees as you hover over the computer. Meditation-in-motion is a real thing, and you may find that getting up and moving around helps you digest information better (while giving your back a much-needed break).


Even if you’re just moving from your home office to your home kitchen, make a conscious effort to resist hulking down for your whole lunch break. Walk to the deli! Stand up and play with your cat! Go check for the mail at the bottom of your three floor walk-up! Eat a burrito while walking down Fifth Avenue! Go to your office kitchen and catch up on yesterday’s drama from 

You may look a little silly (inspired? genius?) scribbling things down in your notebook while standing or moving, but think of it this way—you also look like someone with a poetic soul.

5. The five minute break during the Pomodoro method

It’s trendy because it’s easy: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest, and repeat until you’re done. And while those 25 minutes of sitting down and focusing were great, make yourself stand up for the 5 minutes before you start again. Or if you’re really trying to get moving, try a 5 minute dance break.

 coffee today, try to stand while you drink it. Standing leads to more blood flow and more brain activity, and that means more energy.

If you have a real commute, try to stay on your feet for it (karma points for letting that sweet older person take your seat). And if you can see your workspace from where you wake up, add an abbreviated fake commute to your morning with a little walk around the neighborhood. Maybe you’ll even get hit with a backpack or something to make it feel like the real thing.


Sure this is easier with a standing desk, but it’s totally possible without one. Do you have a tall bookshelf? A mantel that makes your rent $1,000 more expensive? Or very good balance and can type one-handed? You can do it.


9. When there’s only one hour until you get off work

The best (?) part about standing up is that no matter what, you can’t nod off… we think. When it’s 4 pm on a Friday and you can’t stop watching the clock, try unfolding your body to get through the final stretch.

9 Ways to Work While Standing

Whether you’re hitting the office again in some form or your current desk setup leaves something to be desired, treating yourself to something that’ll 

 the space you spend most of your day around is well worth it. You might not be able to change your environment completely, but adding a pop of personality here

could be the simple boost you didn’t know you needed. Find everyday things that light your fire, be it a breezy little air purifier/fan for hair-fluttering Beyoncé energy, or a spunky desk plant to fawn over during breaks.

Remember what Teacher told you when presenting in front of the class? Face the room! Make eye contact! Project with confidence! The same rules apply in this virtual-heavy work world. Smudgy lenses, weird lighting, and awkward positioning can make anyone want to slouch through a meeting, so fight back. This small clip-on webcam from Angetube is adjustable and has a built-in ring light to help you work your angles.

Between lunchtime odors no one asked for and the visible dust layering the filing cabinets, work areas (and your nostrils) are practically begging for an air purifier. We suggest splurging on this sleek, desk-sized model: It’s FDA-cleared for medical use, has a 250-foot reach to help with air flow, and claims to “destroy” germs.

Love the outdoors but don’t get out much as of late? Friend of flora and fauna but don’t have much of a green thumb? Meet the low-maintenance plant for you: The dracaena limelight is a vibrant, super-hardy, and easy-to-grow vine. Small, living plants can help boost mood, improve productivity, and calm your body. Plus, they work as instant décor if all your workspace currently involves is a wall calendar and a novelty mug.


Part objet d’art, part storage container, this glossy, pop-art pear is whimsical yet clean-lined, fun yet functional, and just plain ol’ useful. Tuck away odds and ends in it, store secret notes, stash candy. Your pear, your choice.